My city’s in ruins
view from carew tower (Photo credit: whatnot)
The confluence of several events around me the past few days has reminded me of Bruce Springsteen’s song “My City of Ruins”. We’ve sung this at church a number of times. What has happened in the past few days has really brought it home.
- A student’s cousin was murdered.
- A church leader had a stroke and is in intensive care in the hospital.
- An 8th grade boy at a middle school shot and killed himself — adding to the number of students at that same school who died this past year.
- Another friend’s cousin has died.
In a year devoted to Simplify, Serve, and Create, I’m called even deeper to take the words of the song to heart:
My city’s in ruins
My city’s in ruins
Now with these hands
With these hands
I pray Lord
With these hands
I pray for the strength Lord
With these hands
I pray for the faith Lord
With these hands
Come on rise up!
Come on rise up!
Rise up
I shared with my students yesterday that every one of us has been given talents and gifts to offer the world. We must first find out what those are and then use them. If we do not overcome the forces that try to keep us from doing what we were put here to do, then we’re not just hurting ourselves — we’re hurting those around us who could benefit from what we have to offer.
My city’s in ruins. With these hands I pray for the strength, I pray for the faith, and I rise up to make it better.
My city of ruins – Bruce Springsteen
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Tags: Bruce Springsteen, Cincinnati, Community, inspire, my city of ruins, serve, service, talent
How you been man? Crazy stuff going on in town.
So very sad. Too many of us have forgotten what is truly important in the world and in our lives. We need to get back to the basics.